Oskol Offensive

The Oskol Offensive was an offensive operation carried out by the Soviet Red Army against Axis positions at Novy Oskol and Stary Oskol in western Russia from 1 to 5 February 1943. The Soviet Southwestern Front under Nikolai Vatutin attacked both positions at the same time, and they faced mostly Royal Hungarian Army troops. The Soviets used rifle divisions for the assault on the Axis forces, and they secured Novy Oskol on 3 February and Stary Oskol on 5 February. The offensive drove back two Hungarian formations from the Oskol River, allowing for the Soviets to advance further west.